Yep it's sounds normal to me. That's what my winters are like. As for the stunt kite, sure it'll help you kearn how to control a kite. It'll even make you progress faster....AFTER YOU LESSON!!!! I flew a stunt kite, and I think that's one of the reasons I picked up the kite skills so fast.

Stunt kite will teach you the basics, and if you get good at it (slack line tricks) you will gain kite control in a level that does not exist in traction kites (foils and inflatable). This will help you get the kite out of flaky situations.

What it will not teach you, is to handle power, as stunt kites rarely generate real power. One of the good things about flying a real power kite is that you can get used to controlling a kite under power, getting dragged, jumping, landing and launching which you cannot learn from a stunt kite.

Fly the stunt kite with your left hand only (simulated body dragging).
Fly the stunt kite with your right hand only (simulated body dragging)..
Fly the stunt kite with your eyes closed (simulated shit happens).
Fly the stunt kite with your stomach on the ground (simulated wipeout).
Fly the stunt kite with your back on the ground (simulated wipeout).
Fly the stunt kite in a tracing pattern (trees clouds buildings)
Fly the stunt kite in a square pattern (left hand only, right hand only etc.).
Fly the stunt kite and park it in the sky.
Fly the stunt kite until it is a part of you.